Thin-film PZT micro-actuator integrated with suspension of head gimbal assembly, and disk drive unit with the same

Abstract

A micro-actuator for a head gimbal assembly includes a support structure and a PZT element. The support structure includes a bottom support integrated with a suspension flexure of the head gimbal assembly, a top support adapted to support a slider of the head gimbal assembly, and a leading beam that couples the bottom support and the top support. The leading beam includes a weak point that allows the top support to rotate about a rotational axis in use. The PZT element is mounted between the top and bottom supports. The PZT element is excitable to cause selective rotational movement of the top support about the rotational axis in use.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to information recording disk drive units and, more particularly, to a micro-actuator for a head gimbal assembly (HGA) of the disk drive unit. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] One known type of information storage device is a disk drive device that uses magnetic media to store data and a movable read / write head that is positioned over the media to selectively read from or write to the disk. [0003] Consumers are constantly desiring greater storage capacity for such disk drive devices, as well as faster and more accurate reading and writing operations. Thus, disk drive manufacturers have continued to develop higher capacity disk drives by, for example, increasing the density of the information tracks on the disks by using a narrower track width and / or a narrower track pitch. However, each increase in track density requires that the disk drive device have a corresponding increase in the positional control of the read / write h...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] One aspect of the present invention relates to a micro-actuator structured to provide fine head position adjustment and high shock performance.

Problems solved by technology

As track density increases, it becomes more and more difficult using known technology to quickly and accurately position the read / write head over the desired information tracks on the storage media.

Because of the inherent tolerances of the VCM and the head suspension assembly, the slider 103 cannot achieve quick and fine position control which adversely impacts the ability of the read / write head to accurately read data from and write data to the disk.

This rubbing will cause a reliability failure.

Also, this rubbing will generate metal particles which may cause serious damage to the slider 133, the disk, or both, and therefore damage the disk drive unit.

Another disadvantage of the prior design is the shock performance.

This arrangement provides very poor shock performance.

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